Posts tagged missions
Deuteronomy
Nov 24th
24:18 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there. That is why I command you to do this. 19 When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.20 When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow.21 When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow.
I love this. This is MISSIONS 101.
…thinking…
Jun 16th
I have been doing a lot of thinking about future events that I anticipate happening in my life. I have an urgent desire to do my part, concerning Christianity. For most of my historical walk with Christ I have been focused on living right. Or awkwardly put, trying to abstain from all appearances of evil.
I have always been one of those who are drawn to doing what would be considered as “bucking the system.” Speaking from the point of view of everyday life, if I am told “you can’t do it that way” or “it’s always been done this way” and even “it’s not possible” I am ready to jump at the chance to prove these statements as false. I have failed and succeeded within all of these circumstances but I believe, the majority of the time, my intentions are good.
I definitely could have learned from history. There are so many examples of people I know and people in the Bible that I could have learned from. Or at least I could have taken their outcomes and applied them to my life. In most cases I have decided to take the chance and learn from my own mistakes. I do not recommend this method in any manner. Although, I have noticed that when I make a mistake and could only blame myself, I believe I learn the “lesson” in the most personal way.
With that being said, at this moment I feel I am ready to begin an opportunity. This opportunity is actually a dream that began about 5 years ago. It’s amazing how God does give you the desires of your heart. But within this opportunity I fear eyebrows will be raised. This opportunity isn’t the typical approach into the field I am preparing myself to go. I believe people will say, “That isn’t how missions should be done”. Maybe it would be easiest to explain this by just asking you to ask yourself this question. What comes to mind when you think of missions/missionary?
My answer to this question is unfortunately answered with another question. “Why aren’t the things that happen over [there] (on a mission trip) happening over [here]?
Within my question the dream came about that started 5 years ago. I saw something within the context of a mission trip to Mexico. I saw the lives of the people participating on the mission trip affected in a greater way than the people that were actually being served. When I list the things I would like to be involved with concerning ministry I would list them in this manner. 1. Youth ministry. 2. Missions. 3. Pastor. If am honest it would take an act of God for me to decide to be a missionary or a pastor. I believe that act of God has happened within me. My call into missions has been answered by myself without any prompting from other influences. The cool thing is I will still be able to be involved in youth ministry just at a greater distance.
My dream is to inspire others to do the same thing they would do on a mission trip back in their homeland as well.
As I continue to think about missions I continue to think about how to be effective and efficient. I am not burdened to be in a poverty stricken land. I am burdened to be in spiritually lacking land. Living in another country doesn’t scare me. You know what would scare me more than anything? If God gave me a burden to reach wealthy lost Americans. That would be tuff. Think about that! Seriously, think about God calling you to specifically reach wealthy people. Something about a rich man threading through the eye of a needle comes to mind.
I can’t believe that my dream is about to come true. The best thing is that the dream that God has given me is even better than I could have imagined. One of my favorite words is Godspeed. Now, only if I can live by its definition.
This Is In Our Hood
Mar 6th
Gracepointchurch.tv! If we sit back and don’t do something about THIS, we are liars!
april come soon
Oct 23rd
i am preparing for a backpacking mission trip through the Copper Canyon in Mexico. We will start this adventure in the city of Creel. i am told that i should prepare as if i knew was going to be lost in the middle of nowhere. if you know me, this is right up my alley. i told my wife for my 30th birthday that i wanted to be dropped off in alaska and that i had to find my way to safety. i love being out in the wild with nothing around. nothing but the sound of Gods creation. it is the place i feel closest to God. i can hear Him clearly. i can smell Him. it is were his provisions come natural.
this trip will not be comfortable. the area we plan to share our faith is so remote that it is easily accesible only by foot or capable four wheelers. i hope i can learn enough of the Aztecan/Indian language to influence the Raramuri/Tarahumara Indians.
i hope that i get the opportunity to have some tesguino with these people. from what i have read, it seems this beer has been a pitfall for these people and hopefully having a glass without judging them will create a segue into the love of Christ.
Impossible City
Oct 10th
I have been seeking God’s placement. I desire to be exactly where God wants me. I don’t want to be somewhere only to be relocated, due to a better opportunity. Why is it that many pastors are like players in the majors, trying to get to the “Yankees”? I believe when I get God’s direction for my life, it will be an opportunity that makes me question God. I believe it will be somewhere that takes an absolute step of faith that requires me to completely let Him have the reigns. This is what I hope for. A place like Dubai.
Dubai has been labeled the Impossible City. It has been described as Las Vegas on steroids.
Sounds like an incredible opportunity for the church to establish an extension. Look at this city. Look at the population facts. Insane! Only 20% of the poplulation are local/original Dubaian’s (is that a word?). Yeah, the city has a deep Islamic heritage. Yes its hot. Yes its an extreme enviroment. Yes you have to have a fat wallet. I can’t imagine, if someone let God lead them into this city, a progressive style church plant in this area. I honestly fear this idea. You can only agree that God wants his church in this area. Maybe somone has already accepted the challenge. But with multi-millions of people and counting, I would suspect the need for more than a few churches should be on the menu.
